Sun Bucks

SUMMER EBT/SUN BUCKS:

Louisiana Launches New Program to Improve Food Access for Kids During Summer Break

Louisiana will launch Summer EBT/SUN Bucks, a new grocery benefits program that provides families $120 for each eligible school-aged child to buy groceries when school is out. Summer is a time when many children lose the free and reduced-price meals they get at school, and when households might need a little extra help putting meals on the table. Most families will get these benefits automatically, but some parents will need to apply. The new program is in addition to free meals that kids of all ages can get at summer meal sites in their communities.

BENEFITS OF SUMMER EBT/SUN BUCKS:

Helps parents and caregivers buy healthy foods for their children.
Gives families the flexibility to select foods that fit their culture and lifestyle.
Improves food security and diet quality for participating children.

ELIGIBILITY:

Children are eligible for the program if:

The household already participates in SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid (income eligible) OR
The child attends a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast

ENROLLMENT:

Many families will get Summer EBT/SUN Bucks automatically if they are getting other benefits, but some families may need to apply.

If the household already participates in SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid(income eligible), they will be automatically enrolled in the Summer EBT program. Households do not need to fill out an application.
Not automatically enrolled and may be eligible, they can get SummerEBT/SUNBucks by filling out an application. Applications will be available on this site in late summer. More information about the program will be available at https://sunbucks.la.gov.

HOW SUMMER EBT/SUN BUCKS WORKS:
The benefits will be provided on an EBT card (the same card for students already receiving SNAP) and can be used to buy groceries. Families will receive $120 per eligible child for the summer. Benefits can be used at authorized retailers, like grocery stores and farmers markets, to purchase healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, meats and other protein sources, whole grains, and dairy.

Visit https://sunbucks.la.gov to learn more.

HELP FAMILIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY:

Spread the word to families in your community! Let households know about the new SummerEBT/SUNBucks program.
Encourage families who receive benefits through SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid (income eligible), to make sure their mailing address is up to date.
Tell families who are automatically enrolled to watch for their card in the mail and ensure their address is up-to-date and on file.
Inform households that immigrant and non-U.S. citizens are eligible for Summer EBT/SUNBucks. Participation does not impact immigration status.
Encourage families who have eligible children to apply.
Alert families to fill out an application when available, and to have the child's name, address, date of birth, school system, school name, and student ID.
Children and teens need healthy food year-round to play, grow, and learn. Summer EBT/SUN Bucks will help families stretch their grocery budget during the summer and provide their children with the nutrition they need to thrive. Visit https://sunbucks.la.gov to learn more about this exciting new program. Together, we can make summer brighter for our children.

CONTACT:

Visit sunbucks.la.gov for the latest information, and follow DCFS on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram for updates.

Summer EBT/SUN Bucks FAQ

What are SUN Bucks?

Is SUN Bucks the same as P-EBT?

No, SUN Bucks is a new program that provides additional food assistance to eligible families with school-aged children during the summer months. The Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program provided benefits to help families during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now ended. Some students who were eligible for P-EBT will not be eligible for SUN Bucks. Eligibility for SUN Bucks is based on household income.

Therefore, some families who received P-EBT because their child attended a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school will not receive SUN Bucks. Only those children who individually applied and were approved to receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP), or who received SNAP, TANF or income-based Medicaid during the 2023-2024 school year, will automatically receive SUN Bucks. All others who attended a CEP school and may be income-eligible will need to apply when the application period opens later this summer.

Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?

School-aged children are eligible for Louisiana SUN Bucks if at any time between the period of July 1, 2023, through August 15, 2024:

The child participated in SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid, or
The child was in foster care, or
The child has been identified as homeless or migrant, or
The student attends a school that offers the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the student was individually approved for free or reduced-price meals because the household’s income meets the requirements for that program.

Will my child get SUN Bucks if they received P-EBT benefits?

When will SUN Bucks be issued?

Phase 1: Children who received SNAP benefits during the 2023-2024 school year are eligible for streamlined certification and will be automatically enrolled. SUN Bucks benefits will be added to their existing SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card by June 21, 2024.

Phase 2: Eligible groups during Phase 2 include children born between August 15, 2005, and July 1, 2018, who received Medicaid, FITAP, or KCSP during the 2023-2024 school year, as well as children who attended an NSLP/SBP school and qualified for free or reduced-price school meals based on household income.

Phase 2 SUN Bucks benefits for the Medicaid group started going out July 23 and will continue to be issued weekly over the next few weeks, followed by eligible children who received FITAP and KCSP. Eligible children who qualified for free or reduced-price school meals will be the final group to receive benefits during this phase.

Phase 2 children will receive new EBT cards preloaded with SUN Bucks benefits by mail. Parents should watch for a plain white envelope addressed to their child. Families with more than one child may receive their children’s cards at different times.

Phase 3: Children who did not receive SUN Bucks during Phases 1 and 2 can apply for SUN Bucks during the Phase 3 application period that opens late August. Please bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates, and be sure to follow DCFS on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news!

If you have any questions about this, please visit sunbucks.la.gov.

Will my child’s SUN Bucks benefits go on their P-EBT card?

What do families need to do?

Where can you use SUN Bucks?

How long do you have to use SUN Bucks?

Will homeschooled children receive SUN Bucks?

Will I receive one card for all children or separate cards for each eligible child?

I no longer have our household’s existing SNAP EBT card. How do I get a replacement?

Do I need to save my child’s card from year to year?

If my child attends a program with meals provided through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) am I still eligible for SUN Bucks?

Yes, SUN Bucks eligibility is not affected by participation in other summer feeding programs. SUN Bucks is an extra benefit to help stretch your grocery budget when school is out for summer. You can use it even if your child gets free summer meals through other programs. You can call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (or text 914-342-7744 with the keyword “summer meals”) to find the free meal service location closest to you.